BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to a projector.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0002] In recent years, a projector in which an image forming panel, such as a liquid crystal
display element or a digital micromirror device (DMD: Registered Trademark), is mounted
has become widespread.
[0003] Recently, with the widespread use of smartphones and the like, in addition to landscape
imaging with a horizontally long imaging screen, portrait imaging with a vertically
long imaging screen is also easily performed. For this reason, opportunities are increasing
for projectors to project a screen in which a landscape screen and a portrait screen
are mixed. There is also increasing demand for projection of a portrait screen in
signage applications as advertising mediums, such as signboards.
[0004] For this reason, a projector that rotates a projection direction at 90° within a
horizontal plane using a reflection mirror and switches between portrait projection
with a vertically long screen and landscape projection with a horizontally long screen
has been suggested (see
JP2014-170097A).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] However, in
JP2014-170097A, the reflection mirror is externally attached to a projection lens, there is a need
to use a large reflection mirror, and there is a problem in that the device is increased
in size.
[0006] The invention has been accomplished in view of the above-described circumstances,
and an object of the invention is to provide a projector capable of performing landscape
projection and portrait projection and freely setting a projection direction without
causing an increase in size.
[0007] In order to achieve the above-described object, the invention provides a projector
comprising an image forming panel, a projection optical system, a first connection
member 44, a first sensor, and a controller. The image forming panel displays an image
based on an original image. The projection optical system has, in order from a screen
side, a first optical system, a first reflection member, and a second optical system,
and projects the image displayed on the image forming panel onto a screen as a magnified
image. The first reflection member bends a first optical axis of the first optical
system at 90°. The first connection member 44 connects the first optical system including
the first reflection member to the second optical system to be rotationally movable
in increments of 90° around a second optical axis of the second optical system. The
first sensor detects a rotational movement state of the first optical axis of the
first optical system around the second optical axis in the first connection member
44. The controller changes an orientation of a display image of the image forming
panel based on the rotational movement state detected by the first sensor to make
an orientation of a projection image on a projection plane match the original image.
[0008] It is preferable that the projection optical system comprises a second reflection
member and a third optical system. The second reflection member bends the second optical
axis of the second optical system at 90°. The third optical system is disposed on
the image forming panel side from the second reflection member.
[0009] It is preferable that the projection optical system has a second connection member
and a second sensor. The second connection member connects the second optical system
and the second reflection member to the third optical system to be rotationally movable
in increments of 90° around a third optical axis of the third optical system. The
second sensor detects a rotational movement state of the second optical axis of the
second optical system around the third optical axis in the second connection member.
The controller changes the orientation of the display image of the image forming panel
based on the rotational movement states detected by the first sensor and the second
sensor to make the orientation of the projection image on the projection plane match
the original image.
[0010] It is preferable that a reflection surface of each of the first reflection member
and the second reflection member is a plane. It is preferable that the controller
determines whether the display image is a vertically long portrait image or a horizontally
long landscape image based on image orientation information to change an orientation
of an image. It is preferable that the controller has an image orientation change
input unit that inputs change of an image orientation.
[0011] It is preferable that the projector further comprises a projector body having the
image forming panel, and a vertical shift mechanism. The vertical shift mechanism
shifts the projector body in a vertical direction. It is preferable that the projector
comprises a horizontal shift mechanism in addition to or instead of the vertical shift
mechanism. The horizontal shift mechanism shifts the projector body in a horizontal
direction. It is preferable that the projector further comprises a projector body
having the image forming panel, and a rotational movement mechanism that rotationally
moves the projector body around a vertical line.
[0012] According to the invention, it is simply possible to perform landscape projection
and portrait projection and to freely set a projection direction without causing an
increase in size.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013]
Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a projector of the invention.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the projector.
Fig. 3 is a control block diagram.
Fig. 4 is a flowchart of orientation correction of a display screen.
Fig. 5 is a side view showing a bending pattern of a projection optical system.
Fig. 6 is a table illustrating the orientation correction of the display screen.
Fig. 7 is a side view showing a bending pattern of a projection optical system in
a projector of Modification Example 1 in which a third optical axis is arranged in
a vertical direction.
Fig. 8 is a table illustrating orientation correction of a display screen of Modification
Example 1.
Fig. 9 is a side view of a second embodiment having a first connection member and
a second connection member by motor drive.
Fig. 10 is a control block diagram in the second embodiment.
Fig. 11 is a side view of a third embodiment having a second connection member on
a projector body side.
Fig. 12 is a side view showing a projector of a fourth embodiment using one mirror.
Fig. 13 is a perspective view showing a projector of a fifth embodiment that comprises
a pedestal having a shift mechanism.
Fig. 14 is a perspective view showing a projector of a sixth embodiment that comprises
a pedestal having a rotational movement mechanism.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[First Embodiment]
[0014] As shown in Fig. 1, a projector 10 of the embodiment comprises a projection optical
system 11 and a projector body 12. The projector body 12 has an image forming panel
13. An image is displayed on an image display surface 13a of the image forming panel
13 based on an original image. The projection optical system 11 projects the image
displayed on the image forming panel 13 onto a screen 15 as a magnified image.
[0015] As shown in Fig. 2, the projection optical system 11 comprises, in order on an optical
axis from the screen 15 to the image forming panel 13, a first optical system 21 having
a first optical axis CL1, a second optical system 22 having a second optical axis
CL2, and a third optical system 23 having a third optical axis CL3. In the embodiment,
an up-down direction, a right-left direction, and a front-rear direction are determined
based on a state in which the projector body 12 turns a projection direction in a
direction of the third optical axis CL3.
[0016] A first mirror 24 as a first reflection member is disposed between the first optical
system 21 and the second optical system 22. The first mirror 24 has a reflection surface
that is a plane, and bends the first optical axis CL1 of the first optical system
21 through reflection to form the second optical axis CL2 that intersects the first
optical axis CL1 at 90°. A second mirror 25 as a second reflection member is disposed
between the second optical system 22 and the third optical system 23. The second mirror
25 has a reflection surface that is a plane, and bends the second optical axis CL2
through reflection to form the third optical axis CL3 that intersects the second optical
axis CL2 at 90°.
[0017] The first optical system 21 has a first lens 31 and a second lens 32 in order on
the first optical axis CL1 from the screen 15 to the image forming panel 13. The second
optical system 22 has a third lens 33 and a fourth lens 34 on the second optical axis
CL2. The third optical system 23 has a fifth lens 35 and a sixth lens 36 on the third
optical axis CL3. Although each of the first lens 31, the second lens 32, the third
lens 33, the fifth lens 35, and the sixth lens 36 is shown as a single lens for simplification
of illustration, each lens actually consists of a plurality of lens groups. The sixth
lens 36 and the fifth lens 35 image illumination light from the image forming panel
13 on an imaging plane 37 as an intermediate image. The fourth lens 34, the third
lens 33, the second lens 32, and the first lens 31 project the image of the imaging
plane 37 onto the screen 15 on a magnified scale.
[0018] The first optical system 21, the second optical system 22, the third optical system
23, the first mirror 24, and the second mirror 25 are stored in a lens barrel 26.
The lens barrel 26 has a first holding barrel 41, a second holding barrel 42, a third
holding barrel 43, a first connection member 44, and a second connection member 45,
and the members 41 to 45 are assembled integrally.
[0019] The first holding barrel 41 has a first lens frame 41a, a second lens frame 41b,
and a first mirror frame 41c. The first lens frame 41a is formed in a cylindrical
shape, and the first lens 31 is fixed to the first lens frame 41a. The second lens
frame 41b is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the second lens 32 is fixed to the
second lens frame 41b. The first mirror frame 41c is formed in an angular tubular
shaped having an inclined surface 46, and has a connection barrel 47 in a lower portion.
The first mirror 24 is fixed to the inner surface of the inclined surface 46, and
the third lens 33 and the fourth lens 34 are fixed to the connection barrel 47.
[0020] The second holding barrel 42 has a connection barrel member 42a and a second mirror
frame 42b. The connection barrel member 42a is externally fitted to the connection
barrel 47 of the first holding barrel 41, and both of the connection barrel member
42a and the connection barrel 47 are rotationally movably connected. The first connection
member 44 is constituted by the fitting structure of the connection barrel member
42a and the connection barrel 47. The second mirror frame 42b is formed in an angular
tubular shape having an inclined surface 50, and has a connection barrel 51 in a side
portion. The second mirror 25 is fixed to the inner surface of the inclined surface
50.
[0021] The third holding barrel 43 is formed in a stepped cylindrical shape, and has a fourth
lens frame 43a, a flange 43b, and a fifth lens frame 43c. The fifth lens 35 is fixed
to the fourth lens frame 43a. The fourth lens frame 43a is internally fitted to the
connection barrel 51 of the second holding barrel 42, and both of the fourth lens
frame 43a and the connection barrel 51 are rotationally movably connected. The second
connection member 45 is constituted by the fitting structure of the fourth lens frame
43a and the connection barrel 51 of the second holding barrel 42. The flange 43b is
fixed to a lens mounting hole 62a of a housing 62. The sixth lens 36 is fixed to the
fifth lens frame 43c.
[0022] The first connection member 44 connects the first holding barrel 41 to the second
holding barrel 42 to be rotationally movable in increments of 90° around the second
optical axis CL2 of the second optical system 22. Similarly, the second connection
member 45 connects the second holding barrel 42 to the third holding barrel 43 to
be rotationally movable in increments of 90° around the third optical axis CL3 of
the third optical system 23. For this reason, the first connection member 44 is provided
with a first click mechanism and a first sensor 55 (see Fig. 3). The second connection
member 45 is provided with a second click mechanism and a second sensor 56 (see Fig.
3). The first connection member 44 and the second connection member 45 should rotationally
movably connect both members, and various rotationally movable guide mechanisms can
be used.
[0023] The first click mechanism is constituted of a known click mechanism. The first click
mechanism is configured such that one protrusion is locked to another storage portion
each time the first holding barrel 41 is rotationally moved at 90° with respect to
the second holding barrel 42. With this, the rotational movement of the first holding
barrel 41 is regulated in increments of 90°. Then, the first holding barrel 41 is
rotationally moved with force beyond the rotational movement regulation, whereby the
first click mechanism is unlocked, and next rotational movement is possible. In a
case where the first holding barrel 41 is further rotationally moved at 90° in this
state, rotational movement is regulated at a next click position.
[0024] The first sensor 55 detects a rotational movement state of the first optical axis
CL1 of the first optical system 21 around the second optical axis CL2 in the first
connection member 44. The rotational movement state refers to four states of an initial
position where the first optical axis CL1, the second optical axis CL2, and the third
optical axis CL3 are in a U shape, a 90° position rotationally moved clockwise at
90° from the initial position, a 180° position further rotationally moved clockwise
at 90° from the 90° position, and a 270° position further rotationally moved clockwise
at 90° from the 180° position. Although a mechanical sensor is used as the first sensor
55, an optical sensor, a detection sensor of a rotational movement angle by a rotary
encoder, or the like may be used.
[0025] The second click mechanism regulates rotational movement of the second holding barrel
42 each time the second holding barrel 42 is rotationally moved at 90° with respect
to the third holding barrel 43. As the second click mechanism, similarly to the first
click mechanism, a known click mechanism is used. The first connection member 44 and
the second connection member 45 have rotational movement regulation members, respectively.
The rotational movement regulation members regulate rotational movement beyond 360°
in the respective connection members 44 and 45.
[0026] The lens configuration of the first lens 31 to the sixth lens 36 is described in
detail, for example, in "Projection Optical System and Projection Display Device"
of
JP2016-156986A,
JP2016-156983A, or the like. The optical systems described in the documents can be used as the projection
optical system 11. With the projection optical systems and the projection display
devices, an optical system having high projection performance of which aberrations
are satisfactorily corrected at a wide angle is obtained.
[0027] As shown in Fig. 1, the projector body 12 has a light source 63, an image forming
panel 13, and a controller 69 stored in the housing 62 substantially having a rectangular
parallelepiped shape. The projector body 12 has a square longitudinal section and
is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole to have a size in which
the corners of the projector body 12 are positioned inside the rotational movement
range of the first holding barrel 41 around the third optical axis CL3. Accordingly,
even though the second holding barrel 42 is rotationally moved, the first holding
barrel 41 does not come into contact with the projector body 12.
[0028] As the image forming panel 13, for example, a transmissive liquid crystal panel is
used. The light source 63 is disposed on a rear surface of the image forming panel
13, that is, on an opposite side of the image forming panel 13 from the projection
optical system 11. The light source 63 uses a light emitting diode (LED) that emits
light of three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) simultaneously, and illuminates
the image forming panel 13. Instead of an LED, a xenon lamp, a halogen lamp, an ultra-high
pressure mercury lamp, or the like that emits white light may be used. The projection
optical system 11 projects illumination light from the image forming panel 13 illuminated
by the light source 63 onto the screen 15.
[0029] As shown in Fig. 3, the controller 69 has an image processing unit 70, an image orientation
determination unit 71, an image memory 72, a panel drive unit 73, a light source drive
unit 74, and an image orientation change button 75 as an image orientation change
input unit. The image processing unit 70 executes image processing on a projection
image from the image memory 72 and sends an image signal to the panel drive unit 73.
The panel drive unit 73 drives the image forming panel 13 based on the image signal
to display an image of three colors of RGB on the image display surface 13a. The light
source drive unit 74 turns on the light source 63.
[0030] The image orientation determination unit 71 corrects an orientation of an image displayed
on the image forming panel 13 based on signals of the first sensor 55 and the second
sensor 56. In a case where the image orientation change button 75 is pressed, the
image orientation determination unit 71 sequentially changes the orientation of the
image.
[0031] Fig. 4 is a flowchart showing image orientation correction in the controller 69.
The image orientation determination unit 71 detects an optical axis bending state
of the projection optical system 11 based on the signals of the first sensor 55 and
the second sensor 56. As shown in a second row of a table of Fig. 6, a relationship
between a panel display image E1, which is displayed on the image forming panel 13,
and an orientation of each of projection images E21 to E24 of the screen 15 in a bending
state of the projection optical system 11 is known in advance. Accordingly, the bending
state of the projection optical system 11 is specified from among 16 patterns shown
in Fig. 5 based on rotational movement detection states from the first sensor 55 and
the second sensor 56. Then, as shown in the table of Fig. 6, an image orientation
correction value is specified based on the specified bending pattern, and the specified
image orientation correction value is sent to the image processing unit 70. The image
processing unit 70 changes an orientation of an original image E0 based on the image
orientation correction value, and displays panel display images E1 and E11 to E18
on the image forming panel 13. The panel display images E1 and E11 to E18 are changed
in orientation by the two mirrors 24 and 25 to have the same orientation as the original
image E0 and are projected onto the screen 15. For this reason, the image orientation
determination unit 71 has table data 76 as the table of Fig. 6 that stores an optical
axis bending state of the projection optical system 11 in association with an orientation
correction value of an image, which is displayed on the image forming panel 13 in
the bending state.
[0032] Fig. 5 shows all bending patterns of the projection optical system 11 that are obtained
when the first holding barrel 41 and the second holding barrel 42 are individually
rotationally moved in increments of 90° using the first connection member 44 and the
second connection member 45. A state of the projection optical system 11 of a bending
pattern (AA) is an initial state, and the optical axis is bent in a U shape. The bending
patterns obtained when the first holding barrel 41 is rotationally moved in order
in increments of 90° clockwise from (AA) with respect to the second holding barrel
42 are (AB), (AC), and (AD). The bending patterns obtained when the first holding
barrel 41 is similarly rotationally moved in order in increments of 90° clockwise
from (BA) are (BB), (BC), and (BD), the bending patterns obtained when the first holding
barrel 41 is similarly rotationally moved in order in increments of 90° clockwise
from (CA) are (CB), (CC), and (CD), and the bending patterns obtained when the first
holding barrel 41 is similarly rotationally moved in order in increments of 90° clockwise
from (DA) are (DB), (DC), and (DD).
[0033] The bending patterns obtained when the second holding barrel 42 is rotationally moved
in order in increments of 90° clockwise from (AA) with respect to the third holding
barrel 43 are (BA), (CA), and (DA). The bending patterns obtained when the second
holding barrel 42 is similarly rotationally moved in order in increments of 90° clockwise
from (AB) are (BB), (CB), and (DB). The bending patterns obtained when the second
holding barrel 42 is similarly rotationally moved in order in increments of 90° clockwise
from (AC) are (BC), (CC), and (DC). The bending patterns obtained when the second
holding barrel 42 is similarly rotationally moved in order in increments of 90° clockwise
from (AD) are (BD), (CD), and (DD). In this way, the 16 bending state patterns of
(AA) to (DD) can be constituted by the first connection member 44 and the second connection
member 45.
[0034] Fig. 6 is a table showing change in an image orientation in the respective bending
patterns (AA) to (DD). In the bending form of (AA), in order to make the orientation
of the projection image E21 of the screen 15 be the same as the original image E0,
an image formed by rotating the original image E0 at 180° as a mirror image is displayed
on the image forming panel 13 as the panel display image E1. In a case where the first
holding barrel 41 is rotationally moved in increments of 90° in a state in which the
orientation of the image is unchanged and orientation correction is not performed,
the panel display image is rotated like the screen projection images E21 to E24 in
the second row of the table of Fig. 6.
[0035] For example, the screen projection image E22 becomes a portrait image rotated counterclockwise
at 90° in (AB), the screen projection image E23 becomes an upside-down landscape image
rotated counterclockwise at 180° in (AC), and the screen projection image E24 becomes
a portrait image rotated counterclockwise at 270° in (AD). Accordingly, it is not
preferable that the original image E0 is projected onto the screen 15 in a rotated
state like the screen projection images E22, E23, and E24. Therefore, the image is
displayed in a state in which the orientation of the image is corrected like the panel
display images E11, E12, E13, and E14 in a lower section of a third row of the table
of Fig. 6. With this, as in an upper section of the third row, screen projection images
E31, E32, E33, and E34 with the same orientation (the top, bottom, right, and left
are the same) of the original image E0 are displayed. The image forming panel 13 is
in landscape in (AB) and (CB) or (AD) and (CD). For this reason, the screen projection
images E32 and E34 are displayed on a reduced scale because a horizontal side length
of the original image is displayed in alignment with a vertical side length of the
image forming panel 13.
[0036] A fourth row of the table of Fig. 6 shows correction in a case where the original
image is a portrait image. As shown in a lower section of the fourth row, correction
is performed to the panel display images E15, E16, E17, and E18 formed by correcting
the orientation of the display image of the image forming panel 13, whereby screen
projection images E35, E36, E37, and E38 are displayed as an image with the same orientation
as the original image E0 as shown in an upper section of the fourth row.
[0037] Projection toward a floor is performed in (BB) and (DD), and projection toward a
ceiling is performed in (BD) and (DB). In such projection toward the ceiling or the
floor, since the orientation of the projection image is changed depending on a portion
to be a reference, in the embodiment, the correction of the image orientation is not
particularly performed. However, the correction of the image orientation may be arbitrarily
performed.
[0038] In a case where the orientation of the screen projection image is desired to be changed,
the image orientation change button 75 is operated. In a case where the image orientation
change button 75 is pressed, the orientation of the panel display image E1 displayed
on the image forming panel 13 is sequentially changed for each one operation. For
example, the panel display images E11 to E14 shown in the lower section of the third
row of the table of Fig. 6 or the panel display images E15 to E18 shown in the lower
section of the fourth row of the table of Fig. 6 are sequentially displayed on the
image forming panel 13.
[0039] Next, the operation of the embodiment will be described. In a case where the projection
direction should be changed, a user holds the first holding barrel 41 and rotationally
moves the first holding barrel 41 around the second optical axis CL2 with the first
connection member 44. The user holds the second holding barrel 42 to rotationally
move the second holding barrel 42 around the third optical axis CL3 with the second
connection member 45. With the rotational movement operations, as shown in Fig. 5,
it is possible to change the projection optical system 11 in the 16 bending patterns
(AA) to (D), and arbitrarily change the projection direction.
[0040] In Fig. 5, the bending pattern (AA) becomes an upper rear projection position, (BA)
and (DA) becomes a middle rear projection position, (CA) becomes a lower rear projection
position, (AB) becomes an upper left projection position, (BB) becomes a lower bottom
projection position, (CB) becomes a lower right projection position, (DB) becomes
an upper top projection position, (AC) becomes an upper front projection position,
(BC) and (DC) become a middle front projection position, (CC) becomes a lower front
projection position, (AD) becomes an upper right projection position, (BD) becomes
an upper top projection position, (CD) becomes a lower left projection position, and
(DD) becomes a lower bottom projection position. Then, with the image orientation
correction by the image orientation determination unit 71 and the image processing
unit 70, the projection image onto the screen 15 is projected constantly in the same
orientation as the original image. In a case where a portrait image is mixed in the
original image in addition to a landscape image, it is possible to press the image
orientation change button 75 to sequentially change the orientation of the projection
image.
[0041] As described above, in the embodiment, in a case where the first holding barrel 41
is rotated in increments of 90° by the first connection member 44 or the second holding
barrel 42 is rotated in increments of 90° by the second connection member 45, it is
possible to simply change the projection direction. Besides, even though the projection
direction is changed, with the image orientation correction by the image orientation
determination unit 71 and the image processing unit 70, it is possible to display
the image in the same orientation as the original image E0 like the screen projection
images E31 to E38 shown in Fig. 6.
[Modification Example 1]
[0042] In the above-described embodiment, although the original image is displayed and the
orientation of the screen projection image is corrected with a manual operation while
automatic determination regarding whether the display image is a landscape image or
a portrait image is not performed, instead or in addition, as shown in Fig. 3, determination
may be made whether or not the display image is a landscape image or a portrait image
using image orientation information of the original image from the image memory 72,
and accordingly, the image orientation correction may be automatically performed as
shown in the table of Fig. 6.
[Modification Example 2]
[0043] In the above-described embodiment, although an example where the projector is provided
in such a manner that the second optical axis CL2 is arranged in the vertical direction
has been described, as in Modification Example 2 shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the projector
may be provided in such a manner that the third optical axis CL3 is arranged in the
vertical direction. Fig. 7 shows the same arrangement as the horizontal arrangement
of Fig. 5 excluding that the projector is arranged vertically, and as in Fig. 5, 16
kinds of bending patterns (AA) to (DD) obtained. In this case, as shown in a table
of Fig. 8, it is also possible to simply change the projection direction.
[0044] In the above-described embodiment, although the image forming panel is disposed eccentrically
with respect to the third optical axis CL3, the third optical axis CL3 may be projected
in alignment with a center position of the projection image of the image forming panel
13. One or both of the image forming panel 13 and the projection optical system 11
may be shifted by a shift mechanism in a direction perpendicular to the third optical
axis CL3.
[0045] In the above-described embodiment, the second optical axis is made to be rotationally
movable in the whole circumferential direction of the third optical axis CL3 using
the housing 62 substantially in a rectangular parallelepiped shape having a square
longitudinal section. Instead, though not shown, the invention may be carried out
to a projector in which a projection optical system is disposed in a deflected manner
on one side surface of a rectangular housing having a square longitudinal section
because of the arrangement of a light source and the like. In this case, while the
housing and the first optical system interfere with each other, and the projection
direction is restricted as much, it is possible to perform portrait projection and
landscape projection.
[Second Embodiment]
[0046] In the above-described embodiment, although the first holding barrel 41 or the second
holding barrel 42 is rotationally moved manually, instead, in a projector 80 of a
second embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the first connection member 44 and the
second connection member 45 are rotationally moved by gear drive of a first motor
81 and a second motor 82.
[0047] In the following embodiment, the same constituent members as those in the first embodiment
are represented by the same reference numerals, and overlapping description will not
be repeated. In the second embodiment, a first switch 85 and a second switch 86 are
connected to a controller 79. The first motor 81 is rotated by a first motor drive
unit 87 with an operation of the first switch 85. With this, the first connection
member 44 is rotated, whereby the orientation of the first optical system 21 can be
changed.
[0048] The second motor 82 is rotated by a second motor drive unit 88 with an operation
of the second switch 86. With this, the second holding barrel 42 is rotated, whereby
the orientation of the second optical system 22 can be changed.
[0049] The first sensor 55 and the second sensor 56 may be omitted. In this case, for example,
the number of drive pulses corresponding to an amount of rotation of each of the motors
81 and 82 is counted to detect a rotational movement angle of the first optical system
21 or the second optical system 22. Instead of or in addition to counting the number
of drive pulses of each of the motors 81 and 82, a rotational movement angle of a
gear may be detected by a rotation detection plate and a sensor (not shown). In this
case, for example, the rotation detection plate having a number of notches at given
pitches is fixed to an outer circumferential surface of the gear, and passing of a
large number of notches is detected by a photointerrupter to obtain the rotational
movement angle.
[Third Embodiment]
[0050] In the second embodiment, although the second holding barrel 42 is held by the second
connection member 45 to be rotationally movable with respect to the third holding
barrel 43, instead of the second connection member 45, as in a third embodiment shown
in Fig. 11, a mount rotational movement unit 91 may be provided in a projector body
90. The mount rotational movement unit 91 has the same basic configuration as the
second connection member 45, and the same constituent members are represented by the
same reference numerals. In the third embodiment, a mount 92 is rotated by a motor
82, whereby the second holding barrel 42 can be rotated around the third optical axis
CL3.
[Fourth Embodiment]
[0051] In the first embodiment, although the two mirrors 24 and 25 are used, in a projector
of a fourth embodiment shown in Fig. 12, the second mirror 25 is removed and only
the first mirror 24 is used, thereby constituting a projection optical system 96 in
which an optical axis is in an L shape. For this reason, a cylindrical second holding
barrel 97 is provided instead of the second holding barrel 42 of the first embodiment
substantially formed of a rectangular parallelepiped angular tube. The configuration
of the fourth embodiment is the same as in the first embodiment excluding that the
second mirror 25 of the first embodiment is removed and the second holding barrel
97 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the same constituent members as those in
the first embodiment are represented by the same reference numerals.
[Fifth Embodiment]
[0052] In the first embodiment, the projection position of the projection image fluctuates
with change in bending state of the projection optical system 11. In order to avoid
the fluctuation, in a projector 100 of a fifth embodiment shown in Fig. 13, a projector
body 12 is shifted using a pedestal 103 having shift mechanisms 101 and 102, thereby
eliminating the fluctuation of the projection position. For this reason, change in
projection position by the first connection member 44 and the second connection member
45, the projector body 12 is shifted a vertical shift mechanism 101 and a horizontal
shift mechanism 102 by an amount of movement of the projection position. It is possible
to eliminate the movement of the first optical axis CL1 in the vertical direction
due to rotational movement of the second optical axis CL2 by the vertical shift mechanism
101, and to project the projection image at an invariably constant height. It is possible
to eliminate the movement of the first optical axis CL1 in the horizontal direction
due to the rotational movement of the second optical axis CL2 by the horizontal shift
mechanism 102, and to invariably align the first optical axis CL1 as a projection
optical axis with the center of the screen 15. One of the vertical shift mechanism
101 or the horizontal shift mechanism 102 may be omitted, and only the shift in the
vertical direction or only the shift in the horizontal direction may be performed.
[Sixth Embodiment]
[0053] In the sixth embodiment, although the pedestal 103 is moved up and down by the shift
mechanisms 101 and 102, in addition, as shown in Fig. 14, the pedestal 103 may be
rotationally moved around a vertical line centering on the second optical axis CL2
by a rotational movement mechanism 105. The rotational movement may be in increments
of 90° or may be in increments of other angles. The rotational movement center of
the pedestal 103 should not be aligned with the second optical axis CL2, and should
be a vertical line parallel to the second optical axis CL2. The rotational movement
may be performed manually in addition to motor drive. Instead of providing the rotational
movement mechanism 105 in addition to the shift mechanisms 101 and 102, only the rotational
movement mechanism 105 may be simply provided or the rotational movement mechanism
105 may be provided in the pedestal 103 having either of the shift mechanism 101 or
102. The rotational movement mechanism 105 is provided, whereby projection can be
performed in all directions of a horizontal plane while the portrait screen or the
landscape screen is maintained.
[0054] In the respective embodiments, although a transmissive liquid crystal panel is used
as the image forming panel 13, a reflective liquid crystal panel may be used. In this
case, the light source 63 is disposed on the front surface side of the image forming
panel 13 to perform simultaneous irradiation of irradiation light of three colors
of RGB. In a case where a DMD is used as the image forming panel 13, for example,
the light source 63 is disposed on the front surface side of the image forming panel
13 to emit LED of three colors of RGB in a time-division manner in synchronization
with a forming timing of a three-color image of the DMD.
[0055] In the respective embodiments, although description has been provided based on an
example where the projector 10 is provided on a table, the invention can also be applied
to a case where the projector is used while being suspended from a ceiling or the
like. Furthermore, although an example where an image is projected onto the screen
15 has been described, a projection plane is not limited to the screen 15, and the
projector can be used as a projector that projects an image on various projection
planes.
[0056] In the respective embodiments, terms, such as perpendicular and parallel, have been
used to represent a positional relationship between the plurality of optical axes
or specific numerical values of an angle, such as 90°, have been used for description.
However, the terms or the numerical values include a range to be allowed with an error
based on accuracy required for the optical system.
[0057] In the respective embodiments, although the projector in which the projection optical
system 11 is fixed to the housing 62 has been described, the projection optical system
11 may be attachably and detachably mounted in the projector body 12. In a case where
an interchangeable projection optical system 11 is used, for example, a part of lenses
of the first optical system 21, for example, the first lens 31 and the second lens
32 may be provided in the projector body, and the number of lenses on the projection
optical system 11 side may be decreased.
Explanation of References
[0058]
- 10:
- projector
- 11:
- projection optical system
- 12:
- projector body
- 13:
- image forming panel
- 13a:
- image display surface
- 15:
- screen
- 21:
- first optical system
- 22:
- second optical system
- 23:
- third optical system
- 24:
- first mirror
- 25:
- second mirror
- 26:
- lens barrel
- 31:
- first lens
- 32:
- second lens
- 33:
- third lens
- 34:
- fourth lens
- 35:
- fifth lens
- 36:
- sixth lens
- 37:
- imaging plane
- 41:
- first holding barrel
- 41a:
- first lens frame
- 41b:
- second lens frame
- 41c:
- first mirror frame
- 42:
- second holding barrel
- 42a:
- connection barrel member
- 42b:
- second mirror frame
- 43:
- third holding barrel
- 43a:
- fourth lens frame
- 43b:
- flange
- 43c:
- fifth lens frame
- 44:
- first connection member
- 45:
- second connection member
- 46:
- inclined surface
- 47:
- connection barrel
- 50:
- inclined surface
- 51:
- connection barrel
- 55:
- first sensor
- 56:
- second sensor
- 62:
- housing
- 62a:
- lens mounting hole
- 63:
- light source
- 69:
- controller
- 70:
- image processing unit
- 71:
- image orientation determination unit
- 72:
- image memory
- 73:
- panel drive unit
- 74:
- light source drive unit
- 75:
- image orientation change button
- 76:
- table data
- 79:
- controller
- 80:
- projector
- 81:
- first motor
- 82:
- second motor
- 85:
- first switch
- 86:
- second switch
- 87:
- first motor drive unit
- 88:
- second motor drive unit
- 90:
- projector body
- 91:
- mount rotational movement unit
- 92:
- mount
- 96:
- projection optical system
- 97:
- second holding barrel
- 100:
- projector
- 101:
- vertical shift mechanism
- 102:
- horizontal shift mechanism
- 103:
- pedestal
- 105:
- rotational movement mechanism
- CL1:
- first optical axis
- CL2:
- second optical axis
- CL3:
- third optical axis
- E0:
- original image
- E1, E11 to E18:
- panel display image
- E21 to E24, E31 to E38:
- screen projection image
1. A projector comprising:
an image forming panel that displays an image based on an original image;
a projection optical system that has, in order from a screen side, a first optical
system, a first reflection member bending a first optical axis of the first optical
system at 90°, and a second optical system, and projects the image displayed on the
image forming panel onto a screen as a magnified image;
a first connection member that connects the first optical system including the first
reflection member to the second optical system to be rotationally movable around a
second optical axis of the second optical system;
a first sensor that detects a rotational movement state of the first optical axis
of the first optical system around the second optical axis in the first connection
member; and
a controller that changes an orientation of a display image of the image forming panel
based on the rotational movement state detected by the first sensor to make an orientation
of a projection image on a projection plane match the original image.
2. The projector according to claim 1,
wherein the first connection member connects the first optical system including the
first reflection member to the second optical system to be rotationally movable in
increments of 90°.
3. The projector according to claim 2, further comprising:
a second reflection member that bends the second optical axis of the second optical
system at 90°; and
a third optical system that is disposed on the image forming panel side from the second
reflection member.
4. The projector according to claim 3, further comprising:
a second connection member that connects the second optical system and the second
reflection member to the third optical system to be rotationally movable in increments
of 90° around a third optical axis of the third optical system; and
a second sensor that detects a rotational movement state of the second optical axis
of the second optical system around the third optical axis in the second connection
member,
wherein the controller changes the orientation of the display image of the image forming
panel based on the rotational movement states detected by the first sensor and the
second sensor to make the orientation of the projection image on the projection plane
match the original image.
5. The projector according to claim 3 or 4,
wherein a reflection surface of each of the first reflection member and the second
reflection member is a plane.
6. The projector according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
wherein the controller determines whether the display image is a vertically long portrait
image or a horizontally long landscape image based on image orientation information
to change an orientation of an image.
7. The projector according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
wherein the controller has an image orientation change input unit that inputs change
of an image orientation.
8. The projector according to any one of claims 3 to 5, further comprising:
a projector body having the image forming panel; and
a vertical shift mechanism that shifts the projector body in a vertical direction.
9. The projector according to any one of claims 3 to 5, and 8, further comprising:
a projector body having the image forming panel; and
a horizontal shift mechanism that shifts the projector body in a horizontal direction.
10. The projector according to any one of claims 3 to 5, 8, and 9, further comprising:
a projector body having the image forming panel; and
a rotational movement mechanism that rotationally moves the projector body around
a vertical line.